Fiber optic ribbon subminiature display for head/helmet mounted display

Abstract

A lightweight fiber optic television subminiature display for helmet mounted display systems. A one dimensional array of pixels such as a fiber optic (FO) ribbon (64) has an input end (62) which receives input light illuminating the pixels so as to create a first dimension of the display. The output end (64B) of the FO ribbon is moved relative to the observer to create a second dimension. At the helmet (66), the FO ribbon is clamped by a clamp (68) and vibrated by a driver (70) so that the output end of the ribbon is moved to obtain the second dimension. The dimensions of the FO ribbon are selected to provide a natural resonant frequency equal to the television field rate, and the driver vibrates the section (64A) of the ribbon between the clamp and the ribbon output end at the ribbon resonant frequency. The clamp and driver can be very lightweight, thereby reducing the weight of the display elements mounted on the helmet.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.